Too soon to bring back Nick Smith - Greens

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Too soon to bring back Smith - Greens

3News NZ

Metiria Turei

Metiria Turei

Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei says former ACC Minister Nick Smith shouldn't return to Cabinet in today's re-shuffle.

Prime Minister John Key is today expected to announce Dr Smith's return to the front bench, after resigning last year after admitting a conflict of interest in the Bronwyn Pullar ACC scandal.

"I've always said that I'm not ruling him out and that if I made that announcement on Tuesday, don't think he'd be surprised," Mr Key told 3 News yesterday, calling Dr Smith's mistakes a "hiccup".

But Ms Turei says it's still too soon to bring the experienced MP back into Cabinet.

"He is an experienced minister and he knew that it was wrong and unethical, but he did it anyway," she told Firstline this morning.

She says his penance should last for "the rest of the term at least".

"If he is brought back and if he's given an environmental portfolio, I think that'll be because the Government wants to greenwash their policy. National is very toxic to the environment."

Ms Turei says National has an "obsession" with mining, has abandoned reporting on conservation issues and has "consistently undermined" environmental work.

Watch the video for more of Metiria Turei's views on the return of Nick Smith, the Government's treatment of the environment and the inauguration of Barack Obama as he begins his second term as US president.

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Comments

22/01/2013 7:13:00 p.m.

Kathy wrote:

This government is anti family and creating a major breakdown in societal values thats for sure Mr Smith lol Didnt Nick Smith promise to stand down at the next election because of his sins? now he and Key hope we have forgotten that promise and the stuff ups?. A vote against National is a vote for morality thats for sure, christians need to read their bible and see that Christ threw the John Key's out of his temples for his greed and lust for money. They need to apply those principals when they next go to vote. There is no such thing as a moral right winger.

22/01/2013 2:46:39 p.m.

nicksmith wrote:

this govt has no morals.

22/01/2013 11:10:23 a.m.

atrout wrote:

So Turei has developed a Scale of Sinning for MPs. She believes that Nick needs a few more months in the back benches! Wow, what a marvelous tool for judging other MPs by! Surely Turei can see how ridiculous she looks with this pronouncement about Nick's reappearance in the front benches this week. Has she applied her Scale of Sinning to the rest of our Parliamentarians? Maybe if she did the Chamber would be even more empty than it is during the usual sitting day. She needs a hobby or some other activity to fill her day along with her competition with Russ for media space.